Management Review

THE SAGA OF MANAGEMENT REVIEW OF WRITING STYLE







Question: How many feet do mice have?






Original reply: Mice have four feet.


Mgmt. Comment: Elaborate!






Revision 1: Mice have five appendages, and four of them are feet.


Mgmt. Comment: No discussion of fifth appendage!






Revision 2: Mice have five appendages; four of them are feet and one is a tail.


Mgmt. Comment: What? Feet with no legs?






Revision 3: Mice have four legs, four feet and one tail per unit-mouse.


Mgmt. Comment: Confusing -- is that a total of 9 appendages?






Revision 4: Mice have four leg-foot assemblies and one tail assembly per body.


Mgmt. Comment: Does not fully discuss the issue!






Revision 5: Each mouse comes equipped with four legs and a tail. Each leg is equipped with a foot at the end opposite the body; the tail is not equipped with a foot.


Mgmt. Comment: Descriptive? Yes. Forceful? NO!






Revision 6: Allotment appendages for mice will be: Four leg-foot assemblies, one tail. Deviation from this policy is not permitted as it would constitute misapportionment of scarce appendage assets.


Mgmt. Comment: Too authoritative; stifles creativity!






Revision 7: Mice have four feet; each foot is attached to a small leg joined integrally with the overall mouse structural sub-system. Also attached to the mouse sub-system is a thin tail, non-functional and ornamental in nature.


Mgmt. Comment: Too verbose/scientific. Answer the question!






FINAL REVISION APPROVED BY MANAGEMENT: Mice have four feet.